3

Chapter 3

Aria Blake

~•~

“Divorce papers… they’re divorce papers,” Julian replied as he took off his tie. “This isn’t working anymore and it’s best that we go our separate ways.”

My eyelids twitched. “This isn’t working anymore?” I repeated with a hint of amusement and confusion in my voice. “Is that the excuse you’re really giving to me right now?”

It was hard to believe that my husband would get divorce papers without talking to me about it first.

Did I even mean anything to him?

Julian didn’t look at me. “Just sign the papers, Aria. It’s best that we go our own separate ways.”

I froze for a moment, trying to process what was happening.

“How long have you been planning this?” I finally asked. “Why wouldn’t you talk to me about it first? Why do you want to put me in such a terrible situation?”

He let out a sharp exhale. “There was nothing to talk about, Aria. We don’t love each other anymore and we can’t continue acting like everything is okay.”

I pressed a hand to my forehead, trying to stay calm. My head was spinning, and my breathing was heavy.

“You really want to end our marriage because of her?” I couldn’t even mention her name because it would only make my chest tighter. “And you don’t even have the balls to tell me the truth.”

“For the umpteenth time… It’s not because of her. She has nothing to do with this.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Yeah, right.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

I stared at Julian, hoping that he would tell me that everything was just a joke and the divorce papers were a prank.

I wanted him to tell me that the pictures of him and her online were being taken out of context, and that the jewelry was my late anniversary present.

But he didn’t. He just looked at me like he had already made up his mind, and there was nothing I could say or do to make him reconsider.

“I’m sorry that it had to be this way, but it’s the best,” he added after a beat of silence.

A bitter scoff slipped past my lips.

“The best? You want to leave me hanging and you think that’s the best for me? You don’t have a good reason to file for divorce,” I continued, my voice shaking. “Things are working between us. Things were working between us until you started acting distant out of the blue.”

Why wouldn’t he just be a man and tell me the truth? Why would he just throw a bomb at me and expect me to accept it?

“Julian… I can’t let you throw three years of our lives down the drain just because your ex-girlfriend is back in town,” I added when he remained quiet.

He rubbed his temple, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t care what you think anymore, but I’m done with this marriage and I need you to sign the papers.”

So he wasn’t joking.

He really wanted us to go our separate ways without any reasonable explanation.

How did he expect me to move on just like that?

It wasn’t that simple.

Even if he wanted to be done with me, the least he could do was tell me the truth.

“Julian…” My voice came out as a hushed whisper. “Please, don’t do this to me.”

I loved Julian and I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

“I’m not doing anything to you, Aria. I just don’t want to continue with whatever this is when I know that I’ve lost feelings for you.”

I gasped.

His words knocked the breath from me.

Whatever this is? Did he just refer to our three years of marriage as whatever this is?

“You’ve lost feelings for me?”

I gave him a chance to redeem himself, but he nodded. “Yes, I have,” he replied sharply.

My knees weakened.

I wiped off my tears with the back of my hand. “Since when?” I asked quietly, still finding it hard to believe what was happening.

He walked over to the closet. “For a while now,” he answered. “I don’t want to lead you on anymore. So just sign the papers.”

My life was crashing down right in front of me and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

“We are married, Julian. You aren’t leading me on,” I said as I walked over to where he stood. “Why are you doing this to me?”

He turned around and looked at me with a tired expression on his face. “I’m not doing anything to you. Can’t you see that things have been weird between us for the past month?”

My lips quivered. “Yes, I know… but you’ve been the distant one and I’ve been the one trying to fix things,” I replied, my eyes mirroring my desperation. “Just tell me what the problem is and we will figure something out.”

“It’s too late,” he replied flatly.

“No.” I shook my head. “It’s not too late.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “There is no point, just let it go.”

“Let it go?” I asked with a bitter scoff.

“Yes… You clearly don’t love me anymore, so there is no use staying married.”

He wanted to act like the victim?

He was the same person who was messing around with his ex, giving me the silent treatment, and also serving me with divorce papers.

Did he really think he could manipulate me into believing that everything was my fault?

“I’m not signing the papers, Julian,” I said firmly. “Not until you tell me the real reason why you want us to get divorced.”

He let out a humorless chuckle. “You’re going to sign the papers whether you like it or not.”

“You’re making a mistake, Julian,” I replied, my voice low.

“The only mistake I made was getting married to you.”

His words hit harder than I’d ever expected.

Did he just call me a mistake?